Baby crib



April 21, 1964 J. MlCHAL 3,129,439

BABY CRIB Filed July 20, 1961 FIG. 1

INVENTOR. James Mzclzal FIG, 5 ilfiw United States Patent 3,129,439 BABY CRIB James Michal, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Storkline Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 20, 1961, Ser. No. 125,395 10 Claims. (tIl. -93) My invention relates to baby cribs, and has to do more particularly with improved means for detachably mounting on the crib frame the usual spring and mattress.

It is a matter of common knowledge to all persons famihar with the care of infants and small children that there are certain problems in connection with cribs by reason of the fact that a small child is naturally inclined to use the crib in the manner of a trampoline, jumping up and down because of the resilient character of the spring-supported mattress or pad; furthermore, that a small child is inclined to climb over the side of a crib if this is feasible.

Accordingly, it is necessary, (1) to insure that the side rails are of suflicient height to provide adequate protec tion against the childs tendency to climb over it, (2) to provide adjustability of the height of the spring-frame, so that the latter may be conveniently lowered from time to time as the child grows and (3) to provide detachable support means for the spring on the crib frame as will not only permit ready adjustability but will at the same time insure against accidental detachment as a result of the childs jumping.

The prior art is replete with various attempts to solve this problem, an illustrative example being Feldman Patout No. 2,895,144, dated July 21, 1959, over which my invention may be said to represent an improvement.

I have devised new and improved means for detachably mounting a spring on a crib frame which will practically insure against rocking movement of the spring when repeatedly jumped upon by a small child and will also insure against accidental detachment due to such violent action.

My invention contemplates a detachable connection between the spring and crib frame comprising simple link members adjacent the four corners of the structure, such links being preferably formed of inexpensive rigid material such as relatively inflexible Wire or rod stock and terminating in hooks which provide a wedging engagement in apertures provided in the corner posts while at the same time being readily disengageable to permit readjustment of the spring.

A further object is to provide such a device which will be simple, inexpensive and extremely rugged.

Various other objects and advantages will readily become apparent as the description proceeds.

Briefly outlined, my invention contemplates hangers for detachably mounting a spring, said hangers being in the form of a link bent at an obtuse angle adjacent the opposite ends thereof, one of which ends provides a hook normally positioned vertically for detachable engagement in a slot of the corner post; the two bent ends, along with the intermediate portion, lying substantially in angularly disposed planes, preferably at about right angles to each other. Although the above mentioned Feldman patent employs a link for the same purpose, said link lies entirely in a single plane. This difference in construction accounts largely for the markedly superior character of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a corner portion of a crib embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a. fragmentary side elevational View on an enlarged scale, with parts in section, showing in detail an attaching link contemplated by my invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top-side perspective view of the same;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the link taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 2 and before assembly with the spring, and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the link taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

The numeral 10 indicates a crib for a baby or small child, which may be substantially of standard construction except for the spring suspension means embodying my invention, said crib comprising corner posts 12 and a side rail 15 slideably mounted in a vertical plane on a rod 17 which, in turn, is secured to the corner post 12. The rail 15 is slideable on the rod 17 from an elevated position as shown in FIG. 1 to a lowered position (not shown) and retainable by suitable latching means, all of which may be of standard design and hence need not be described here.

The numeral 20 indicates a generally rectangular spring frame, said frame 20 being of standard or other suitable construction, such as is usually provided for the support of a mattress or mattress pad, the frame being formed of tubular stock as shown, although it might be of other suitable form, such as a channel bar, etc. Secured to each of the corner posts 12 by any suitable means, such as screws or the like, is a metal strap 23 having a plurality of vertically elongated slots 25 therein, cavities 27 being formed in the posts 12 behind said slots 25.

Means for detachably mounting the spring frame 20 on the corner posts is exemplified in hangers or links 30. These links are preferably formed of non-flexible steel wire or rod stock, although other material might be used, and comprise a hook portion at one end, as indicated by the numeral 31 (FIG. 2), the hook being preferably of U-formation, the terminal leg 32 of the U being somewhat shorter than the other leg, the latter being integral with and disposed at an obtuse angle to a diagonal intermediate portion 33. The U-portion 31 and the intermediate portion 33 lie preferably in approximately the same plane.

At the lower end of intermediate portion 33 and also integral and extending at an obtuse angle therefrom is a leg 35 which passes through alined apertures in frame 20 which are slightly larger in diameter than the link 30, the terminal portion of the latter being deformed as at 38 after positioning in frame 20 so as to prevent accidental detachment of the link from the frame; in the alternative, the terminal portion of link 30 might be threaded to receive a nut or the like. It will be noted that the link is hooked to the post for ready attachment or detachment and fixed to spring frame 24).

The plane in which lie terminal leg 35 and intermediate portion 33 of the link 30 is disposed at an angle preferably about normal to the plane in which lies U- shaped portion 31. This relation is apparent from FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. Otherwise stated, when the spring is mounted on the crib, the leg 35 is normal to the axis of frame 20 and lies preferably in a horizontal plane while the legs of hook 31 are normally positioned vertically, thus being normal to the plane of terminal portion 35 and that of the spring.

It will be noted that in assembling crib structures embodying my invention, the leg 35 of link 30 is passed through horizontally alined apertures in spring frame 20 and secured thereto, as noted above, either by deforming the terminal portion 38 or by attachment of a nut or the like. Such links are attached adjacent the four corners of spring frame 20. Said frame is then attached to the crib corner posts at the desired height by passing hook portion 31 of the links through selected apertures 25 and into the corresponding recess 27 of the corner posts for the desired elevation of the spring. When the spring frame has been mounted at all four corners in this manner the crib is ready for use. When it is desired to change the elevation of the spring after the baby has grown, it is a simple matter to disengage the links and secure them at a lower level.

It will be apparent that, when a child jumps on the spring, substantially no rocking is possible at either end of link 30. This is true because of the relationship of the parts noted above. This stability is also due to a wedging action of the hook 31 relative to plate 23.

It will be seen, therefore, that I have provided a crib structure and, more particularly an adjustable spring mounting arrangement for a crib which is especially safe and secure against accidental disengagement.

It will be obvious that the links 30 are fabricated in rightand left-hand forms to accommodate opposite sides of the crib.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention will not doubt suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction herein shown and described or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In the combination of a crib having corner posts with an apertured plate therein and a mattress supporting frame, means for detachably supporting the frame on said posts comprising a link secured adjacent each corner of the frame, each link having an intermediate portion and two end portions, said intermediate portion normally extending diagonally downwardly from a post with one end portion secured to the frame and disposed at an angle to said intermediate portion, the other end portion being substantially of U-formation with opposed generally parallel legs, the one end portion and the intermediate portion lying in one plane and the other end portion and the intermediate portion lying in a plane disposed at a substantial angle to said first plane, said other end portion being hooked in said aperture with said legs in wedging engagement with the opposite faces of said plate.

2. A construction as in claim 1, wherein the U-formation of said other end portion has a relatively short terminal leg and a relatively long second leg joined to the intermediate portion.

3. A construction as in claim 1 wherein said two planes are generally normal to each other.

4. A construction as in claim 3 wherein the U-formation of said other end portion has a relatively short terminal leg and a relatively long second leg joined to the intermediate portion.

5. A combination as in claim 2 wherein the legs of said other end portion are substantially vertical, said intermediate portion extends downwardly at an obtuse angle from the other end portion and at an obtuse angle thereto toward said frame, said one end portion lying in a horizontal plane and joining said intermediate portion at an obtuse angle.

6. A link for attaching a spring to a bed frame, said link comprising an intermediate portion and two end portions, one of said end portions being of U-formation with opposed generally parallel legs and lying in a plane with the intermediate portion, the other end portion being substantially straight and in another plane with the interangle to each other, said U-formation of said one end portion having a relatively short terminal leg and a relatively mediate portion, said planes being disposed at a substantial long leg joined to the intermediate portion.

7. A link as in claim 6 wherein sa d planes are generally normal to each other.

8. A link of the character described, comprising an intermediate portion and two end portions, one end portion being of U-formation having generally parallel legs, one leg of the U joining said intermediate portion at an obtuse angle, the other end portion being substantially straight and lying in a substantially horizontal plane when the legs of the one end portion are vertical.

9. A link as in claim 8 wherein the one end portion and said intermediate portion lie substantially in the same plane and the other end portion and the intermediate portion lie in another plane.

10. A crib hanger form of bent, tenuous, substantially rigid stock and having an intermediate portion and a pair of end portions, both end portions joining the intermediate portion at an obtuse angle, one end portion being of U-shaped hook formation and the other being substantially straight, said portions being so related that the straight end portion, if projected beyond its juncture with the intermediate portion, will intersect the plane of the hook portion at approximately degrees.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 589,960 Cross Sept. 14, 1897 2,562,053 Mars et al. July 24, 1951 2,895,144 Feldman July 21, 1959 

1. IN THE COMBINATION OF A CRIB HAVING CORNER POSTS WITH AN APERTURED PLATE THEREIN AND A MATTRESS SUPPORTING FRAME, MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SUPPORTING THE FRAME ON SAID POSTS COMPRISING A LINK SECURED ADJACENT EACH CORNER OF THE FRAME, EACH LINK HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION AND TWO END PORTIONS, SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION NORMALLY EXTENDING DIAGONALLY DOWNWARDLY FROM A POST WITH ONE END PORTION SECURED TO THE FRAME AND DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE TO SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION, THE OTHER END PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY OF U-FORMATION WITH OPPOSED GENERALLY PARALLEL LEGS, THE ONE END PORTION AND THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION LYING IN ONE PLANE AND THE OTHER END PORTION AND THE INTER- 